Why are we Raising Funds?

All funds raised from ticket sales and donations are to be put toward this goal.

Whatever we raise is pledged to our partners at Kings College London's BioResource, to enable them to source and process, at least, 1,000 UK DNA samples to contribute to the international research project known as The AN25K Challenge.

How much has already been raised, and via what means?

Our funds raised to date total just over £36,000.

These funds have been raised by individual donations and dedicated fundraising initiatives.

Donations are often given in small amounts of no more than a few pounds or dollars at a time, from those who have been affected by this illness wanting to offer whatever they can to make sure that this research has its best chance of succeeding.

What role does Charlotte's Helix play?

Charlotte's Helix' involvement is enabling the UK to participate in this important research into the genetics of the eating disorder Anorexia Nervosa. There is no other funding or initiative currently underway that allows the UK to participate in this research.

The work of Charlotte's Helix was initiated to honour the work and the wishes of Charlotte Bevan (1965 - 2013), parent, activist, and champion for better understanding and treatment for eating disorders; the charity is also named for her.

Tell me more about the research: what does it require from the public, and why it is important?

The research requires a total sample size of at least 25,000 volunteered relevant DNA samples; this total to be garnered from all the international participants of the AN25K challenge, and this number representing the point at which it is predicted multiple strands of useful information will start to be extracted.

There is little that is understood about the causes of eating disorders and we are yet to find an easy cure for them. We know that nobody chooses to have one, but we are still in the dark as to the mechanisms by which they take hold - genetic research undoubtedly holds the keys to our future understanding, and will inform treatment, cure, and preventative measures with a certainty that has not been possible before.

Lest we forget, anorexia is a deadly illness; it kills 10% of those affected with it, and can seriously derail the lives, temporarily or permanently, of all those who suffer from it, along with the lives of those who care for them. We thank you for your support; we believe this research is vitally important and nothing else holds equal promise to help us learn more about this illness.

To understand more about the origins of this research and the scientists who lead it, you can read a message from AN25K's lead scientist Professor Cynthia Bulik here.

Special thanks to Emily Bevan and Liana Mensh for the Helix designDr. Cynthia Bulik and her UNC team for the AN25K challengeBeat for start-up funds administrationF.E.A.S.T. for the initial pledges and US donation administration